Power wins the pole at Pocono

Verizon IndyCar driver Will Power has won the past two races at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa. However, he did something on Saturday that he has not done at the facility.

IndyCar has been racing at the facility since 2013. For the first-time since then, Power has been on the pole for the race.

Will Power racing at Texas Motor Speedway (Getty Images)

“Very cool to be up there (tied for second on the all-time poles list) with A.J. Foyt, a legend like that,” Power said. “I couldn’t have imagined that starting my career. So, it’s over the moon. It’s great to start at the front here. I think it will be a bit of a track position race and that’s what we need to get our championship back on track.”

It is his 53rd career pole in the racing series. That has tied him with racing great A.J. Foyt for second all-time.

Power went 219.511 mph to receive the pole for Sunday’s race. This is his 11th career pole on an oval.

Last season, he qualified fifth, but was able to get the win. Then, in 2016, he also qualified eighth and won the race.

Power has five Top 5 qualifying positions at the facility. His non-Top 5 qualifying position was when he qualified eighth in 2016.

At Pocono, he has an average start of 3.8. In addition, he has an average start of 4.0.

Power will be followed by Josef Newgarden and Alexander Rossi with the second and third qualifying position. Newgarden went 218.802 mph, while Rossi went 218.758 mph.

He’ll hope to make it three in a row on Sunday. The race starts at 2:05 pm on NBC Sports.

Power has two wins this season. Yet, both of his wins came in May, as he won the Indianapolis Grand Prix, before winning the prestigious Indianapolis 500 for the first-time in his career.